Hongkongers should do all they can to make visitors feel welcome
- With so many people in the city relying on tourism commerce, the “golden week” holiday offers Hong Kong a chance to showcase its unique appeal
The “golden week” holiday is upon us and the city is about to find out how prepared it is for the first peak tourism period after more than three years of pandemic closures. Hong Kong’s economic recovery depends on authorities, the hospitality sector and residents all doing their part to make visitors feel welcome.
Some 600,000 people from mainland China are expected to arrive over the Labour Day holiday from Saturday until May 5, according to the Travel Industry Council. The projection is lower than the 840,000 mainland visitors seen in the first three days of golden week in 2019, but nearly double the number welcomed over the recent four-day Easter holiday.
Since Hong Kong’s last Covid-19 restrictions were lifted in February, the critical tourism sector has struggled to get back on its feet. In late March, residents in densely populated areas of Kowloon were angered by chaotic arrangements for mainland visitors who ended up gathering in large groups on streets eating takeaway meals.
Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu said the government has been working to ensure the city is ready and it will “take appropriate measures” as needed over golden week. There are opportunities to boost the economy and employment with large numbers of visitors, he said, adding, “I believe Hong Kong residents will welcome them.”
There are reasons to be on edge. Airline operations are at half capacity compared with 2019 pre-pandemic levels. Flights from the mainland are expected to be full, putting pressure on pier checkpoints and land crossings. Catering and hotel sectors are struggling to find enough staff.
Hotel workers are being asked to multitask and avoid taking leave during the peak period when bookings are expected to hit 90 per cent in prime areas. Restaurant sector manpower was down 27 per cent last year from 2018 levels and many eateries running at lower capacity or requiring patrons to wait in long queues to ensure adequate service.
More than 310,000 visitors arrive in Hong Kong as Labour Day ‘golden week’ begins
The government has been aggressively promoting the city for tourism, launching the “Hello Hong Kong” campaign in February to attract at least 1.5 million visitors. Enticements include discounts and millions of dollars in perks. But Hong Kong has taken longer to reach out than many other destinations now competing for tourists.
There is a great deal of catching-up to do. Many have grown unaccustomed to offering hospitality to tourists and grumble about facing crowds of visitors unfamiliar with local life. But the increasing number of tourists who seek authentic local experiences offers Hong Kong a chance to showcase its unique appeal.
With so many people in the city relying on tourism commerce, it is vital everyone does what they can to make visitors feel welcome.
